Untitled, plate from Je regardais et je vis... 1896

Jean Caldain created this plate from “Je regardais et je vis…” using etching and engraving. The scene evokes a dreamscape or perhaps a nightmare, and encourages us to explore the subconscious. Consider how the imagery departs from traditional representations, delving instead into the realm of the fantastical and the grotesque. Caldain presents us with hybrid creatures, beings that defy easy categorization. Are they monstrous, or simply misunderstood? Caldain plays with our emotions, inviting us to confront our fears and anxieties through the act of looking. The emotional impact is undeniable, and the print resonates with a sense of unease. Perhaps the artist sought to externalize the internal conflicts we all experience, giving form to the formless anxieties that haunt our waking hours.